Devotions By Jan

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Dandelion Bouquets

Scripture for Today: Psalm 103:17 “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him and his righteousness with their children’s children.”

How sweet it is  when a child painstakingly picks those dandelions and offers them as a bouquet! There is pride on his face for thinking of it. There is hope there too, that you will recognize the effort and be grateful for his gesture of love. The problem comes almost immediately as those flowers begin to wilt in his hot little hand. One hates to disappoint a child and so we put them in water in hopes they will last a little longer.

Today’s verse is a contrast between what will last and what will not last. Mortals are pictured as grass and like the flower in the field (verse 15). We flourish for a short time and then are no more. Like the dandelion, our lives can be full of beauty but oh so short. How incredible is the contrast with God’s love for His own! His love is from everlasting to everlasting. It does not wilt. His love is evident now and continues without interruption into eternity. And it is so much more beautiful than the lowly dandelion!

I need to know His love for me will not waver. As fickle as I am, He never changes. I do not know this because I always feel it. I know it because He has promised and He is always faithful to His promises. If I am not feeling particularly loved, the problem is not with Him but with me! The eyes of my heart sometimes close and I do not feel His nearness. But nothing separates me from His love, not even my feelings (Romans 8:35, 38-39). When I remind myself of this truth, an amazing thing happens; feelings follow!

Thank you Lord, that Your love is everlasting!

(Look familiar? This is based on my previous post from 2014)


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Chasing Marbles

Scripture for Today: II Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Playing marbles seems to be out of fashion. But not for my grand nephews! It is a great way to pass the time on a rainy day. It’s a good opportunity to improve eye-hand coordination and for little ones, to improve counting skills. But don’t let that circle fool you! Playing marbles ought to be described as “chasing marbles!” For days afterwards, marbles can be found under the couch, under furniture and in the corners of the room!

Today’s verse seems like chasing down those errant marbles! Taking thoughts captive can be much the same scenario. Our thoughts run away with us, leading to wrong attitudes and actions. Those thoughts sometimes just do not cooperate. The thinking of the believer is not to be the same as that of the world (verse 2). But the world’s influence is so strong that thoughts just naturally conform to worldly independent thinking, leaving God out of it.

Thankfully, the Lord does not make managing our thoughts impossible. He has given us His divine power to control and redirect our thoughts (verse 4). On my own, my thinking becomes full of pride and disobedience. But because of His Spirit in me, I am not subject to merely human judgements. As a believer, I have the mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:15-16). What a wonderful thought that is! He is there to turn my heart and mind from what is false and harmful. He brings those wandering thoughts back into the circle of His unchanging truth!

Lord, may my every thought today please You.


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Separating Eggs

Scripture for Today: II Corinthians 6:17 “Therefore, ‘Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.'”

All it takes is just a little bit of yolk to mess up that recipe asking for egg whites only! But separating that yolk from the white takes some real finesse that I often fail to have. I either am too rushed or distracted. And even when I manage this delicate operation, I frustrate myself by getting a small piece of shell in there. Thankfully, no one sees me trying to fish it out!

Today’s verse is a command from the Lord to be separate as His own people. God chose the Israelites to be a set apart people to reveal to the world His glory and His name. As believers and as part of His Church, we too are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God’s special possession (I Peter 2:9). Because this is true, we are to be separate from the world’s values and morals. Rather than blending in with the world, we are to stand out because friendship with the world makes us God’s enemy James 4:4).

My life is to be so different that I am easily identified as belonging to Him. The highest authority in my life is His authority and His Word. When I compromise that standard, it can be as messy as trying to separate that egg! As a believer I do not have the deeper things in common with an unbeliever (verse 15). My heart is different because He dwells there (Ephesians 3:17). It is not only that there are activities in which I do not participate. But it is also that what I am doing has the purpose of pleasing Him!

Thank you Lord, for separating me out for Yourself!


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Golf Carts Only

Scripture for Today: Romans 2:15 “They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.”

The morning beckoned and the path through the golf course was deserted. What a perfect place to take my walk! It did not occur to me that I might be hit by a golf ball or that I might be run over by an approaching golf cart. But apparently, that was the concern behind the rule I was inadvertently breaking! In my defense, there were no signs posted, but I was still breaking the rule and was escorted off that path.

Today’s verse teaches that no such excuse works for mankind when faced with God’s Law. Even when ignorant of that Law, we instinctively do the things of the Law. It is universally written on the hearts of men. That is why so many judicial systems reflect it, at least in part. Stealing, murder and child abuse are considered wrong and are illegal. For the most part, we respect honesty in business, fidelity to a spouse, care for children and generosity to the poor. And God’s Law lets us know what sin is and how guilty we all are (Romans 7:7).

Had I ignored that golf cart rule after being called on it, I could continue walking. But looking over my shoulder, my conscience would be working on overdrive! That’s what law does; makes us aware of our utter inability to perfectly keep it! How thankful I am that there was One who fulfilled God’s Law completely on my behalf! Christ met the perfect standards of God’s Law and saved me from my sinful self. When God sees me, He sees Christ’s gift of righteousness (Romans 10:4).

Thank you, Lord, for the grace You made possible.


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“Snackcidents”

Scripture for Today: Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.“

Do you sometimes eat too much junk food, “by accident?” Mindless snacking can lead to the newly coined term, “snackcident.” This term presupposes regret after the fact. When the tummy starts to protest is not the time to be checking the ingredient list or fat content! Armed with information beforehand, a snackcident is much less likely to happen. However, there are always those social gatherings where it is just much easier to indulge and brave the possibility of the dreaded snackcident!

There is hunger and thirst in today’s verse for something much more satisfying than snacks, regardless of their ingredients.  Those that hunger and thirst for righteousness will be full and satisfied.  With His righteousness we do not pine for something more.  There is no feeling of missing out on something better.  A righteous life is the best kind of life.  Doing the right thing, following His way, and experiencing right standing with our Creator gives a sense of well-being that is complete.  No other kind of life can be quite as full or satisfying!

My problem is that I hunger and thirst for other things, good things, that give only temporary satisfaction.  And of course, I hunger and thirst again.  But I do not want my life to be characterized by always wanting.  I desperately want to experience that contentment and satisfaction He offers.  If I make the Lord the object of my longing, He will satisfy me.  He has promised life to the full (John 10:10).  This “blessedness” means that I can overflow with hope (Rom. 15:13) and with joy (II Cor. 8:2).  I want to be able to say with the Psalmist, “my cup overflows!” (Psalm 23:5)

Lord, satisfy me with Yourself.